Home / Guides / Car valuation for divorce: cost

Divorce & Separation

How Much Does a Car Valuation for Divorce Cost in the UK?

Published 19 October 2026 · 5 min read

A written car valuation for a divorce is priced by make and model, and we confirm the price in writing before any work starts, with no VAT added. You do not have to pay for one to complete Form E, which asks only for cars worth more than £500, so the real question is whether your figure is likely to be argued over.

Want an exact price for your car? Get a price for a divorce valuation.

What are your options, and what does each cost?

There are four routes. Only one of them needs a fee from us.

Route	What you get	Cost
Adverts for similar cars	What sellers are asking. Nothing is adjusted for your car's mileage, condition or history.	Free
A dealer's figure	A trade price: what the dealer would pay to take the car.	Set by the dealer
Written desktop valuation from Bassett	One documented figure, with the comparable cars and adjustments written down so both sides can check the working.	Priced by make and model, confirmed in writing first, no VAT
Single joint expert under Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules	Expert evidence for the court, only with the court's permission.	Not our service: the expert sets the fee

The last route is a court process, not a bigger version of ours. Rule 25.4 says nobody may put expert evidence before the court without its permission, and we do not act as an expert witness. See whether an online valuation is accepted in divorce court.

What decides the price of a car valuation for divorce?

The make and model. An everyday car with plenty of comparable sales is the simplest to value. A classic, a rare car or a heavily modified one costs more, because there are fewer like-for-like sales to compare and more adjustments to explain. We agree the exact price with you in writing before we start, and we do not charge VAT on top.

What do you get for the fee?

A written report built from your photographs and the details you give us, checked against comparable cars on the market, with each adjustment for condition, mileage and specification set out. It states which basis the figure is on, because Form E does not tell you whether to use a trade, private sale or retail value (our guide to choosing a basis for Form E explains the difference). We return it within 24 hours of confirming the price, usually the same working day.

When is it not worth paying for one?

• You and the other side already agree a figure. Write it down and move on.
• The car is worth little and the fee would be a large share of it.
• You only need to complete Form E. Section 2.8 applies to cars worth more than £500, and the form's list of documents to attach has no line for a car valuation.

It earns its cost when the figures are far apart, when the car is a classic or an import where adverts mislead, or when a mediator or solicitor wants an independent number. The official Form E and its schedule show exactly what you have to supply.

Who pays?

Whether one of you pays or you split it is for you to agree, and it is worth having it written down. If solicitors are acting, ask them to record it. Nothing in Form E sets who bears the cost of a valuation.

What the fee does not buy

It does not buy expert evidence for a hearing. We do not attend court or produce Part 25 reports, so if a judge directs an expert, that is a separate instruction your solicitor arranges. Our full explanation is in the main guide to car valuation for divorce in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Is VAT added to a divorce car valuation?

No. Our prices are final and not subject to VAT. The price is confirmed in writing before any work begins.

Does a classic car cost more to value for a divorce?

Usually, yes. Classic, rare and heavily modified cars cost more to value because there are fewer comparable sales and more adjustments to explain.

Can we split the cost of one valuation between us?

Yes, if you both agree. Agree it in writing, and ask your solicitors to record it if they are acting.